Hand strap tensioning tool



May 12, 1953 B. T.MFE RREN ETA; 2,638,314

HAND STRAP TENSIONING T601.

2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 14, 1951 INVENTORS rnard TM Ferren Be anFredS.Seybert d ATTORNEYS May 12, 1953 a MQFE REN ET 2,638,314

HAND STRAP TENSIONING TOOL 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 14, 1951 IINVENTORS Bernard TM Ferren a Fred S. Seybert' "a; wfigw M ATTORNEYSPatented May 12, 952.

UNITEDQ'STATES PATENT OFFICE I 2,638,314 HAND STRAP TENSIONING TOOLBernard T. McFerren, Youngstown, and Fred S. Seybert, -Warren, Ohio,assignors, by mesne assignments, to, Sharon Steel Corporation,

Sharon, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application June 14, 1951,Serial No. 231,588

7 6 Claims.

The invention relates generally to tools for stretching or tensioningmetal'straps or bands around a bundle or package, the.overlapped ends ofthe straps being then secured together by a suitable sealing tool. Moreparticularly, the invention relates to an improved hand stretching toolhaving novel means for raising the feed wheel to permit insertion of theoverlapped, ends of the strap between the feed wheel which engages thetop end and the anchoring plug which engages the bottom end. It iscustomary while holding the tool with the feed wheel adjusted or raised,to apply the tool laterally over the overlapped ends of the strap toposition the strap ends directly under the feed wheel, whereupon thefeed wheel is lowered to engage the top end of the strap.

In certain prior hand stretching tools such as that shown in U. S.Patent No. 1,969,115, issued August '7, 1934, to A. T. Bergstrom, 'thefeed wheel is mounted on an eccentric shaft which is rotatablyadjustable by a separate handle for raising and lowering the feed wheel.This. adjusting handle projects laterally from one side of the tool andcauses the tool to be unbalanced. Moreover, the operation of thelaterally projecting adjusting handle requires either the use of bothhands or holding the tool in one hand and operating the handle bypushing it against a solid object like the edgeof a table, and thisplaces the tool in an awkward position.

Furthermore, in such prior tools, if thefeed wheel and eccentric shaftare not machined to fit substantially perfectly, when the, tensioninghandle is oscillated during the stretching op-' eration the feed wheeltends to slip on the metal strapping, with the result that the operatorhas to hold down on theiadjusting handle while oscillating thetensioning handle. 3

It is an object of the present invention to provide a novel handtensioning tool in which the feed wheel is adjusted by manipulation ofthe tensioning handle and does not requirea' separate adjusting handle.1 1

Another object is to provide a novel hand tensioning tool in which thefeed wheel is raised and held in raised position using one hand, onlywhich at the same time supports the tool in position to apply it to theoverlapped ends of the band. I

More specifically, it is an object of the present invention to provide anovel hand'tensioning tool in whichthe feed wheel isfraised by squeezingthe tensioning handle.

A further object is to provide a novel hand tensioning tool in which thefeed wheel is easily adjusted but does not slip on the strap during thetensioning operation.

A still further object is to provide a novel hand tensioning tool whichis lighter in weight, better balanced and more easily manipulated thanprior tensioning tools. 1

- These and other objects are accomplished by i the parts, improvements,combinations and arrangements comprising the present invention, apreferred embodiment of which is shown in the accompanying drawings anddescribed in the specification as exemplifying the best known mode ofcarrying out the invention, the nature of the invention being set forthin the following general statement, and the scope of the invention beingdefined in the appended claims.

In general terms, the novel tool includes a feed wheel journaled on ashaft which is pivotally mounted for swinging upwardly in slots in aframe to raise the feed wheel with respect to the frame, the tensioninghandle being journaled on the feed wheel shaft and having a ratchet pawlfor driving the feed wheel, there being a shoulder on the frame on whichto rock the tensioning handle and raise the feed wheel by releasing thepawl and squeezing the handle toward the frame, and there being a stopon. the handle operatively connected to the pawl and normally engagingthe frame to prevent rooking the handle to raise the feed wheel.

Referring to the drawings forming part hereof, in which a preferredembodiment of the invention is shown by way of example;

Figure 1 is a' plan view of the improved tool, part of the handle beingbroken away;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof, parts being broken away; 7

Fig. 3 is a front end view thereof with parts broken I away;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view as on line 4-4, Fig.l;

Fig. 5 is a side elevation with parts broken away and in section,showing the manner of releasing the pawl and squeezing the handle leverI to raise the feed wheel;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view as on line 6-4:,Fig. l; and

Fig. '7 is a transverse sectional view as on line 1-1, Fig. 4.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts I throughout the several viewsof the drawings.

The improved tool preferably includes a main frame indicated generallyat It which is provided with spaced bases or feet H and I2 adapted torest upon a surface of a bundle ,or package around which the metal strapor band is being tensioned or stretched. The overlapping ends and b ofthe band are adapted to be positioned over the front foot i I and therear portion of the band is adapted to extend under the rear foot 12,there being a slot l3 provided in the bottom surface of the rear footfor receiving the band. The front foot Ii has screwed therein a hardened plug 14- having an upper serrated surface l4 projecting above theupper surface of the foot for engaging the lower portion b of the strapto frictionally hold it as the other end of; the strap is stretched bythe feed wheel, 7

3 As best shown in figs. 1, 3 and 7., the front foot H is connected onone side of the strap position with a vertical longitudinally extendingflange [5 which forms part of the main frame it. Another verticallongitudinally extending flange i6 is laterally spaced from the flangeP5 and parallel therewith, and flanges 415 and at are connected at thefront of the tool by atransverse web ll, the rear ends of the flangesbeing connected by a transverse web it. Preferably, the main frameincludes a substantially horizontal rib portion M? which extendsrearwardly from the top of web 18 and curves downwardly at its rear tojoin the rear foot 1'2. Preferably, the frame also includes .ahorizontal rib 20 extending along one side of the tool and connectingthe bottom portion of flange 5 with the foot 12. Thus the ribs [9 and 20define ahand hole in the frame between "the feet 11 and [2, for carryingand supporting the tool in a balanced position in one hand.

The feed wheel indicated generally at '21: is mounted between theflanges 15 and :iB directly over the plug It, so that the overlappingends of the strap may be gripped between {the "feed wheel and the plug.The feed wheel is Journaled on a feed wheel shaft 2'2 having its endsextending through slotted openings 23 in the flanges 1'5 and 1 6. Theshaft 22 is normally positio'ned in the lower ends of the slots 23, as"indicated in Fig. 2, and the slots extend upwardly and forwardlytherefrom for a purpose to be described. Preferably, the outer ends oftheishaft '22 are grooved and carry split retaining rings 24 whichretain washers 25 engirdling the s'h'aft and covering the slots23.

The shaft 22 is swingably supported on the flanges l5 and 15 by a pairof links 233 which are pivoted at their upper ends on pins 27 secured inthe flanges l5 and it, the shaft .22 being journalecl in the lower endsof the links 2.6. The angle of inclination of the slots "23substantially coincides with arcs on a radius measured "from the pivotpins 21 as the centers, and the shaft has enough clearance in the slotsso that as the shaft 22 is swung in the links the shaft can move in theslots 23 from one end to the other, thereof the slots 23 acting asguides "for the shaft.

As shown, the feed wheel 12! .is provided with laterally spaced circularserrated ,portions .29 which are adapted to grip the upper overlappedportion 2) of the strap as best shown in Fig. '7. Between the serratedportions '29 the feed wheel is provided with a recessed circular seriesof ratchet teeth 3b which areadaptedt'o be engaged by a driving pa'wl'tlat the rear .of the'fe'ed Wheel and by a holding pawl 32 at the frontthereof. The holding pawl is journaled on .a pawl shaft 33 having itsends mounted in the flanges f5 and it with split retaining rings 3 onthe projecting ends of the shaft. A coil spring "35 is looped over theupper end of the pawl and is coiled around the shaft 33 with its *fa'e'eends abutting the web l7 so as to *urge 'the end '01 the pawl intoholding engagement with the ratchet teeth so, "as best shown in Fig. 4.ICollars 36 onthe shaft 33 at eac'h 'side o'f the holding pawl 32 carryrelatively heavy coil springs 31, the rear ends 38 of which ipressdownwardly on the lower ends of the :links 26 and normally urge theshaft 22 :rearwardly downward against the lower ends of slots 23.

The oscillating handle for arotatingthe :feed

zoomorisingv laterally spaced arms 4! which straddle the feed wheel andfit between the feed wheel and the links 26, the front ends of the armsbeing journaled on the feed wheel shaft, as best shown in Fig. 7. Thehandle do prefer ably has an inverted U-shape in cross sectionandih'asaiknob 42 :on its rear end.

The driving pawl 3| is pivoted on a pin 43 extending between and mountedin the arms ll of the handle yoke, the lower end it of the pawl beingadapted selectively to engage the ratchet teeth '30 of the feed wheel todrive the same in a clockwise direction, so that the serrations 2d gripthe upper "end portion of b of the band and slide 'it over the "lowerportion b which is frictionally held stationary by the plug is. A coilspring '45, looped over the end 3 5 of the pawl and wrapped around thepin 43, with its free ends abutting a "pin '46 secured between the yokearms urges "the end M of the pawl into driving engagement with one ofthe teeth so of the feed wheel. Thus, if the handle MI is "raised to thedotdash position shown in Fig. 4, the pawl ratchets over the teeth 3]]of the feed wheel and engages a higher tooth, whereupon when the handleoscillated downwardly the feed wheel is rotated clockwise to slide theend b of the band forwardly and tighten the band around a package, afterwhich the overlapped ends can be sealed by 'asuitable sealing tool.

In order to raise the feed wheel to allow insertion or removal of theoverlapped ends of the band, the "feed wheel shaft 22 is raised to theupper ends of the slots '23. This operation is accomplished in thepresent improved tool by squeezing the handle All with the same handholds the tool with the fingers inserted under the rib 1'9, in themanner shown in Fig.

- 5. To raise the feed wheel, the upper end of the driving pawl 31 ispushed with'the thumb to release the lower end 4! of the pawl, in theman-- ner shown in "Fig. "5, the pawl end 44 being withdrawn into anotch '41 provided "at the top of theweb .l 8, best 'shownxin Fig. 4.

The upper end of the pawl all is connected by means :of a link "48 tothe upper end of a stop arm "#9 pivoted on a pin'lifl secured in thehandle Ml, the lower end of the stop arm normally resting on the rib 19of the frame and preventing further downward movement of the handle it).When the ,pawl "85! is released by pushing forwardly on -its upper end,the link swings the lower end of the stop arm "49 rearwardly, as in Fig.5, allowing the handle to swing downwardly until the yoke arms "'4"!rest on the shoulder 5i formed at the upper end of the web it.

Now, if the handle so is squeezed toward the rib E9 of "the frame, thehandle will rock on theshoulder 5| as a fulcrum and raise the shaft 22toward the upper ends of the slots 23, consequen'tly raising the feedwheel 2! as shown in Fig. ,5 to provide clearance between the feed wheeland the overlapped ends of the band to permit their "insertion orremoval. As shown in Figs. 4 and '5, a stop pin 52 may be provided atthe rear of the ,pin .50 for abutting the stop arm '49 .tolimi't its.rearwardswing.

Accordingly, when the operator-of .thetool desires to raise the feedwheelfor inserting or removing .the overlapped ends of the band, hemerely lpushes ion the upper .end of pawl and then squeezes the handlewithout changing the tool in a balanced position, excepting to movewheel is provided at its vfront end with .a woke position of his *handwhich normally carries the his thumb slightly and then squeeze with thefingers. Thus the operators other hand remains free for other operationssuch as positioning the overlapped ends of the band for ready insertioninto the tool.

In operating the tool during the stretching operation, each time thehandle is lowered, the stop arm 45 abuts the top of rib is and preventsthe handle from rocking on the shoulder 51' and raising the feed wheelshaft 22. Thus the feed wheel drives the upper portion of the bandforwardly without any slippage, because the downward motion of thehandle tends to force the shaft 22 downwardly and increase the grippinaction, and the shaft raises only when the pawl ill is manipulated toswing the stop arm 49 rearwardly and allow the handle so to rock on theshoulder 5 1.

Moreover, the improved. tool is always well balanced because there is nooffset or laterally projecting adjusting handle as in many priorconstructions. The tool is light in weight and inexpensive tomanufacture and is easily carried and manipulated without resulting infatigue of the operator.

In the foregoing description, certain terms have been used for brevity,clearness and understanding, but no unnecessary limitations are to beimplied therefrom beyond the requirements of the prior art, because suchwords are used for descriptive purposes herein and are intended to bebroadly construed.

Moreover, the embodiment of the improved construction illustrated anddescribed herein is by way of example, and the scope of the presentinvention is not limited to the exact details of construction.

Having now described the invention, the construction, the operation anduse of a preferred embodiment thereof, and the advantageous new anduseful results obtained thereby; the new and useful constructions, andreasonable mechanical equivalents thereof obvious to those skilled inthe art, are set forth in the appended claims.

We claim:

1. In a stretching tool, the combination of a frame, a feed wheel shaft,a feed wheel journaled on said shaft, means swingably mounting saidshaft in said frame permitting raising and lowering said feed wheel, ahandle lever journaled on said shaft, a ratchet pawl operativelyconnecting said handle lever to said feed wheel, a shoulder on saidframe for abutting said handle lever, said shoulder providing a fulcrumabout which the handle lever may rock to raise the feed wheel, and astop arm pivoted on the handle lever operatively connected to said pawland normally engaging the frame to prevent rocking the handle.

2. In a stretching tool, the combination of a frame, a feed wheel shaft,a feed wheel journaled on said shaft, links pivotally mounted on theframe and swingably mounting said shaft in said frame, said frame havingguide slots receiving the ends of said shaft, a handle lever journaledon said shaft, a ratchet pawl operatively connecting said handle leverto said feed wheel, a shoulder on said frame for abutting said handlelever said shoulder providing a fulcrum about which the handle lever mayrock to swing the feed wheel upwardly, and a stop arm pivoted on thehandle lever operatively connected to said pawl and normally engagingthe frame to prevent rocking the handle.

3 In a stretching tool, the combination of a frame, a feed wheel shaft,a feed wheel journaled on said shaft, links pivotally mounted on theframe and swingably mounting said shaft in said frame, said frame havingguide slots receivin the ends of said shaft, spring means urging saidshaft to lowered position, a handle lever journaled on said shaft, aratchet pawl operatively connecting said handle lever to said feedwheel, a shoulder on said frame for abutting said handle lever saidshoulder providing a fulcrum about which the handle lever may rock toraise the feed wheel, and a stop arm pivoted on the handle leveroperatively connected to said pawl and normally engaging the frame toprevent rocking the handle.

4. In a stretching tool having a frame, a shaft, 2. feed wheel journaledon the shaft, and a tensioning handle lever journaled on said shaft foractuating the feed wheel, links upon the frame swingably mounting said.feed wheel shaft in said frame for raising and lowering movement, saidframe having guide slots receiving the ends of the feed wheel shaft, anda shoulder on the frame for abutting an intermediate portion of thehandle said shoulder providing a fulcrum about which the handle may rockto raise the feed wheel, and a stop movably mounted on the handle fornormally engaging the frame to prevent the handle from contacting saidshoulder.

5. In a stretching tool having a frame, a feed wheel, a shaft for thefeed wheel iournaled in the frame, a tensioning handle journaled on saidshaft, and a ratchet pawl connecting said handle to said feed wheel,links pivotally mounted on the frame and swingably mounting said shafton said frame, said frame having slots receiving and guiding said shaft,a rib extending longitudinally of the frame and forming a hand holetherein, a shoulder at the front end of said rib for abutting anintermediate portion of the handle in lowered position, and a stop armpivoted on the handle operatively connected to said pawl and normallyengaging said rib when the handle is lowered, whereby releasing saidpawl will release said stop arm and allow squeezing the handledownwardly toward said rib to rock said handle on said shoulder andraise the feed wheel.

6. In a stretching tool having a frame, a feed wheel, a shaft for thefeed wheel jcurnaled in the frame, a tensioning handle journaled on saidshaft, and a ratchet pawl connecting said handle to said feed wheel,links pivotally mounted on the frame and swingably mounting said shafton said frame, said frame having slots receiving and guiding said shaft,a rib extending longitudinally of the frame and forming a hand holetherein, a shoulder at the front end of said rib for abutting anintermediate portion of the handle in lowered position, spring meansurging said feed wheel to lowered position, and a stop arm pivoted onthe handle operatively connected to said pawl and normally engaging saidrib when the handle is lowered, whereby releasing said pawl will releasesaid stop arm and allow squeezing the handle downwardly toward said ribto rock said handle on said shoulder and raise the feed wheel.

BERNARD T. MCFERREN. FRED S. SEYBERT.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number

